The
Association Burricadas
was founded in March 2007 by Diogo Pimenta, joined later by Maria Manuel Bringel, in October the same year.

Diogo Pimenta
was born in Lisbon. He has extensive work experience as a nature guide at Mafra Nature Reserve; he was also a regular worker at the Iberian Wolf preservation project in Portugal, as well as activities coordinator in several other environmental organisations. The founding of Association Burricadas
was like a dream come true, a project that combined both the conservation and the protection of the working donkey, a species often neglected and disregarded, with a close contact with members of the public and Nature's preservation.

Maria Manuel Bringel
an anthropologist, was also born in Lisbon. Ever since a child, she has nurtured a deep love for animals; she has rescued several animals in her lifetime and she has been connected to the equestrian world for many years. Her experience in the handling and management of equines has been valuable in the development of the Donkey Shelter as it stands today. Maria lived for over 10 years in England; her life experiences as well as her international connections have contributed for the promotion of this project abroad.

Our Mission

Traditionally used as beasts of burden and draught animals throughout Portugal's rural areas, culturally donkeys have been seen as little more than agricultural tools and consequently, they endure a very difficult and harsh life, with hardly any affection and very little care. Usually, after a lifetime serving their masters, these animals are usually sold for slaughter, often as food for the big carnivores.

The
Association Burricadas
is particularly committed to rescue old donkeys destined for slaughter, often buying them from local meat merchants, in order to save them, before they are taken to the abattoir or other place of slaughter.

Despite this staggering rule, there have been a very few animals that have been gifted to us by their elderly owners, who wanted to give their donkey partners a safe and peaceful retirement.

Usually, these animals arrive at the Shelter with over-grown or deformed hooves as a result of a lack of proper care, often riddled with internal and external parasites, wounds and sores. Many of the donkeys arrive totally distrusting humans, due to ill-treatment and abuse in the past.